Kazakhstan's Cardiac Institute Unveils High-Tech Surgery Upgrades for Safer Heart Procedures

The Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases has upgraded its cardiac surgery operating room to meet international quality standards, reports Almaty.tv, citing the institute's press service.

The operating theater is now equipped with cutting-edge technology for complex heart surgeries, including a state-of-the-art thoracoscopic system with 3D visualization capabilities. According to Rоза Куанышбекова, Chair of the Institute's Board, Academician of the Kazakh Academy of Education, Doctor of Medical Sciences, and Professor, the new 3D imaging equipment enables minimally invasive valve surgeries and coronary artery bypass grafting without sternotomy (open-chest incisions).

Her statements are echoed by Rustem Tuleutayev, Head of the Cardiac Surgery Department (which includes the Artificial Circulation Laboratory and Surgical Unit) and a Candidate of Medical Sciences. He notes that patients undergoing these procedures experience far less postoperative pain compared to traditional sternotomy, recover more quickly, and spend less time in both the cardiac unit and intensive care. Blood loss is also significantly reduced, while the cosmetic outcome is markedly improved.

The upgraded facility also supports hybrid surgeries, combining open-heart procedures with endovascular interventions to minimize trauma during cardiac operations.

Notably, Kazakhstan's Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases remains the country's only medical center performing open-heart cryoablation—a one-stage treatment for arrhythmias, often paired with coronary bypass or congenital heart defect corrections.

"Our physicians and nursing staff continuously undergo advanced training to refine their theoretical knowledge and practical skills," says Rоза Тохтаналиевна. "These comprehensive measures allow us to enhance diagnostic and treatment quality year after year, ensuring the best possible health outcomes for our patients."